CONTACT INFORMATION
Benjamin L. Newbern
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Shoals Chamber of Commerce
Phone: (256) 764-4661
Fax: (256) 766-9017
prmarketing@shoalschamber.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ANDERSON NAMED SHOALS CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

Florence, Ala. – March 27, 2006
The Shoals Chamber of Commerce convened its 20th Annual Meeting and Dinner on Thursday, naming businessman Joel R. Anderson as its Shoals Citizen of the Year. The event, held before a sellout crowd, took place at the Marriott Shoals Conference Center in Florence.

Anderson is the chairman and director of the Anderson Companies, which is comprised of the Anderson Media Corporation, Books-A-Million, TNT Fireworks, Anderson Press, Whitman Publishing Co., H.E. Harris Co., C.R. Gibson and the Clark Group.

"Much of his civic and philanthropic activities center on efforts to improve lives through education," said Jay Klos, Shoals Chamber of Commerce board chairman.

Anderson, a Florence native, has served as a charter member of the chamber’s board of directors, and has served on the boards of Riverhill School, the YMCA and Florence-Lauderdale Industrial Expansion Committee. He is also a major supporter of the United Way of Northwest Alabama, the Children's Museum of the Shoals, the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, the Salvation Army and the New York City Police Athletic League.

He was chairman of the 2005 Donald Trump Library Benefit, which raised more than $400,000.

Previous Shoals Citizen of the Year Award recipients include former University of North Alabama President Dr. E.B. Norton; Grady Liles, president of the Shoals National Championship Committee; former U.S. Sen. Howell Heflin; and former President of the Alabama Broadcasters Association "Richard "Dick" Biddle.

The Shoals Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit agency dedicated to promoting economic growth and enhance the quality of life for all Shoals citizens.